Missouri state legislators have begun considering a bill that would make it easier for the state to operate the Kansas City School District. The bill doesn't specifically say what the state education department can do to step into affairs of the district. It does shorten the time for the State to act. Current law allows a local district two years to regain lost accreditation, a clock that began ticking for Kansas City this month. Read more here

Health Insurance Exchange On Hold In Missouri

The use of about $27 million in federal funds to help create a health insurance exchange in Missouri has come to a complete halt. Last summer, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services awarded Missouri a grant to develop the IT infrastructure for an exchange and update the state’s old Medicaid computer system. The grant went to a quasi-government board, the Missouri Health Insurance Pool (MHIP). But, the group has faced mounting political pressure to step away from it. Find out more of the details here.

Council Committee Approves Tax Credits For West Edge

A requested tax break for the reborn effort to develop the Plaza West Edge project breezed through a joint city council committee Wednesday. No council member or citizen opposed a plan under the developer would get a tax credit of up to $9.5 million for building the structure. Get the details here.

NBAF Could Create 600 Permanent Jobs

A new report says NBAF -- the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility -- could create 1300 jobs during the construction phase alone. It estimates that during the first 25 years of operation, the Manhattan facility will create more than 600 permanent jobs, paying more than a billion dollars in total wages. Read more here.

Missouri could soon have an official state exercise. Backers of a bill in the Missouri House say an official exercise could help keep kids active, and fight childhood obesity. Fourth graders from St. Joseph helped get the bill before lawmakers. Find out more here.